DIE HARD

US, 1988, 128 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton, Paul Gleeson, Alexander Godunov, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta.
Directed by John Mc Tiernan.

Die Hard is a spectacular action film with tongue-in-cheek dialogue that goes over the top - but you don't mind. Moonlighting's Bruce Willis is a New York cop accidentally caught up in a terrorist raid on an L.A. skyscraper on Christmas Eve. lie uses ingenuity (and luck) galore to outwit the criminals (more effectively than the sent-up F.B.1., stubborn L.A.P.D. in the form of Paul Gleeson and intrusive TV in the form of William Atherton. It all works very excitingly, especially with steely Alan Rickman as head villain, assisted by Alexander Gudonov. Bonnie Bedelia is Willis' wife. There are also some very good supporting roles with a comic touch. It is tough and rough, but effective larger-than-life entertainment.

1. An enjoyable action thriller? A thriller of the '80s?. Bruce Willis as hero? The lone hero? Over the top, but the human face? The lack of macho, Rambo-style image?

2. The use of Los Angeles, the Century City building and its environment? The interiors? Panavision photography, action, the elaborate stunts, editing and pace? Musical score? Contemporary songs? The use of Beethoven and the Ninth?

3. The title, tough and rough? Expectations? With Bruce Willis - serious and comic?

4. The screenplay: big business, terrorist action, the L.A.P.D., the F.B.1.? The loner and his individual ability? Teams and partners? Sardonic? The blend of the sardonic and the serious?

5. Bruce Willis as John Mc Clane, the introduction in the flight, his advice about flying, the limousine and Argyle? Going to the building the meeting with Holly, the background of his work, separation, his daughter? His going in to the party? Meeting the guests? His going to change, the attack? Using his wits? His police skills? The death of the executive? His various manoeuvres, stalking the terrorists, the battles, the deaths? Getting their weapons? The radio and his talking to AI? His trying to get attention of the Fire Department, of the police? Thrusting the corpse on the police car? The verbal encounters with Hans? His being in singlet and trousers, no shoes? Weary, getting more tired? Blood-spattered? Yet his sardonic outlook? Ingenuity, physical skills the lift-wells, the roof? The risks? The phone call with Ellis and his death? The encounter with Hans and the empty gun? The build-up to the fight with Carl? The final confrontation, saving Holly, Hans' death? His coming down, meeting with AI? Carl and his reappearance? AI shooting him? Holly punching the television personality? His emerging as the hero - comic/real?

6. The terrorists, their background. the plan, the arrival, the initial killings, the computer and the safe, Hans and his gentlemanly style. control? Killing the executive? Ruthlessness? The behaviour, the strategies? The radio? Ellis and his death? The pretence with John and the roof? Discovering the truth about Holly? Holding her to ransom? The F.B.1.? The plan for exploding the roof? The various terrorists and their involvement? Fighting and death? The final confrontation, Hans out the window, his fall?

7. Carl and his brother, their brutality? Carl and his revenge? His finally being beaten? Hanging? Coming down and being shot by AI? The man taking the place of the guard in the foyer? The terrorist with the Mars Bar? The black computer expert and his ruthlessness?

8. Holly, business executive, wife and mother, care, Ellis and his attention? Her taking charge? As hostage? Hostility towards the television personality?

9. AI, on patrol, coming to the building, the corpse falling on the car? His getting the police? Talking to the L.A.P.D. Head? The continued contact with John, their growing friendship, the recognition of mutual skills? His finally saving John's life?

10. The send-up of the L.A.P.D., the Head and his arrogance, sending in reinforcements and their being killed? The armoured car? The F.B.I. taking over?

11. The F.B.1. and the two Johnsons? The send-up of the F.B.1.? The attack;, the helicopter, on the roof?

12. The comedy with Argyle, his listening to the music and missing out on all the action, his discovery of what happened, his ramming the truck with the computer expert?

13. The television reporter, in the studio, pleading to go onto the scene, intruding into the household, his reporting? The film mocking the television personality? Holly punching him?

The film's violence and the way that it was presented? Not the macho self-assertion but rather defence? The lone hero and his heroism? Might, right, wrong? The individual? The corporations, terrorists? The police? Values?